Entomologist Michael Chapman, 58, of Placentia was laid off from his job as a science teacher at Fullerton's Troy High School in June. He landed a job as a biology teacher for the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts in East L.A. JEBB HARRIS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Orange County's public schools plan to cut the school year by up to four weeks if California voters reject tax increases this fall, even as most will continue providing automatic pay raises to teachers and other school staff.

New state flexibility with the traditional 180-day school year means some of Orange County's 27 school districts have been able to negotiate unprecedentedly short school years with their teachers in a worst-case, cost-cutting scenario – four weeks shorter in Brea Olinda Unified, three weeks shorter in Capistrano Unified and up to two weeks shorter in many other districts.

Even in the best-case scenario, several districts will trim a week or more.

If voters don't pass a quarter-percent sales-tax increase and higher taxes for the wealthy in November, state legislators have approved a worst-case plan to automatically cut about $210 million from Orange County public schools' funding.

"I'm not a fan of the tax initiative as a citizen, but people don't have all the facts," said Lori Kosky, a high school attendance clerk in Capistrano Unified, which would lop off three weeks from its school year if the tax increases fail. "Our parents have no idea their kids' school year has been cut by five days, and it's very possible these kids will be getting out toward the end of May (with a three-week shorter year). It's just mind-boggling."

Meanwhile, only a handful of districts have negotiated salary reductions and/or temporarily delayed pay raises that school employees automatically earn each year under a pay matrix known as step-and-column. The raises reward teachers and other staff members for their years of service to the district and for earning advanced credentials such as master's degrees.

The step-and-column pay raises boost most school districts' payroll costs by about 1 percent to 2 percent a year, which can translate to millions of dollars annually.

Even so, most Orange County districts will shorten the school year – not delay step-and-column raises – because furlough days ensure all employees receive a commensurate reduction in pay, officials say. Delaying step-and-column raises leads to pay inequality, as not every employee is scheduled to receive a step-and-column raise every year.

"It can create a disparity in salary," said Wendy Benkert, the Orange County Department of Education's associate superintendent for business services. "But either one of those options – freezing step-and-column or furlough days – those are both temporary solutions."

For the handful of districts preparing to delay step-and-column raises, the freeze will be in effect for anywhere from six months to the full 2012-13 school year, depending on the type of employee and whether the November tax increases pass.

Some districts also reported they may negotiate with their labor unions for step-and-column pay delays if the tax increases fail in November.

Districts have the option to trim up to 20 days – or four weeks – in 2012-13 from the standard 180-day instruction year. In years past, California lawmakers have given districts the ability to cut up to five days, but amid the threat of drastic state funding cuts, lawmakers upped that figure by 15 in June.

BUDGET CUTS DESPITE FLAT FUNDING

Because costs to school districts go up every year – via everything from step-and-column raises to health insurance to fuel prices – more than half of Orange County districts reported needing to trim their spending this year, even as state funding remained essentially flat.

Related Links

Entomologist Michael Chapman, 58, of Placentia was laid off from his job as a science teacher at Fullerton's Troy High School in June. He landed a job as a biology teacher for the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts in East L.A. JEBB HARRIS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Woodbury Elementary School Principal Alan Battenfield makes his morning rounds as students prepare for class. CHAS METIVIER, FOR THE REGISTER
Woodbury Elementary Principal Alan Battenfield talks to second-grader Amelie Pasco-Mason, left, and Elizabeth Yevdayev at the start of school Friday. CHAS METIVIER, FOR THE REGISTER
Parent Sarah Spivey talks with Principal Alan Battenfield at Woodbury Elementary in Irvine. The year-round school may have to shorten the school year if the state tax proposal is defeated. CHAS METIVIER, FOR THE REGISTER
First-grade and kindergarten students give the Mustang wave to a classroom visitor. The wave is a greeting used at the school and also represents the school's core values. CHAS METIVIER, FOR THE REGISTER
Principal Alan Battenfield listens with students during class at Woodbury Elementary School in Irvine. CHAS METIVIER, FOR THE REGISTER
Woodbury Elementary School Principal Alan Battenfield makes his morning rounds as students prepare for class. CHAS METIVIER, FOR THE REGISTER
Students get down to business in a fifth-grade science lab at Woodbury Elementary, which started its year-round class schedule four weeks ago. CHAS METIVIER, FOR THE REGISTER
Michael Chapman, 58, of Placentia who was laid off from his job as a science teacher at Fullerton's Troy High School in June, said, "I'd love to go back to Troy if I could." JEBB HARRIS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Entomologist Michael Chapman, 58, of Placentia shows a favorite book. One of his college texts, he used the book in teaching students at Fullerton's Troy High School how to create and identify an insect collection. JEBB HARRIS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of

User Agreement

Keep it civil and stay on topic. No profanity, vulgarity, racial
slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about
tragedies will be blocked. By posting your comment, you agree to
allow Orange County Register Communications, Inc. the right to
republish your name and comment in additional Register publications
without any notification or payment.